A traveler had intercepted me before I arrived. He told me I should cross through the south; that way, I would save myself some trouble and avoid "paperwork" that doesn't actually exist, making it easier to get through.
"In the other districts, they'll ask where you come from, where you're going, why you are a child traveling alone," the traveler had told me. "But in the south, they are used to it. New adventurers arrive every day like that. Dirty, tired, without official papers."
That made sense. My torn clothes, my worn cloak—everything screamed "I have traveled for months." In the northern Residential District, where the nobility lived, a boy like me would be questioned immediately. Why is he here? Where does he come from? Who authorizes him?
In the eastern Commercial District, they surely would have taken me for a thief.
In the western Divine District, the Church wouldn't have stopped asking questions about my beliefs and religious origins.
But the south… the south saw hundreds of people enter and leave every day without stopping.
The traveler had also said:
"In the Adventurer's District, they don't ask personal questions. It's like an unwritten code. Most adventurers have complicated stories, pasts they prefer not to share. The guards know it, so they don't pry."
I stopped to reflect. It was… smart. The system wasn't designed to be complicated; it was designed to be practical. As long as you weren't an obvious threat, you were welcome.
That suited me perfectly.
"The other districts will want certificates, letters of recommendation, special permits. The south? The south just wants to know you aren't dangerous."
The Guild would act as my verification. I wouldn't need official papers before entering; those would come when I registered at the Guild itself.
The Millishion system was clever. They delegated responsibility: the gate guards did a superficial check, and the Guild performed the real verification.
"In the Adventurer's District, a child traveling alone for months isn't rare. He is simply another adventurer."
That was the key. My appearance wasn't a problem. It might be in other places, but here I would be invisible among the crowd of adventurers with unconventional stories.
My black hair might draw attention, but not enough to stop me. In the Adventurer's District, they saw everything.
"They don't rely on exhaustive inspections. They allow you to enter. Then, when you want to work, you register at the Guild. That is where they verify your competence."
My competence. Not my papers. Not my history. Not my origin.
In a place designed for adventurers, the only documentation that mattered was simple: Can you fight? Can you use magic? Do you have the skills?
The Guild would test me.
There was no need to say anything.
"Therefore, the south is the entrance. No questions. No paperwork. No complications."
He was right.
My current appearance was perfect for going unnoticed... or at least not raising unnecessary suspicions. I looked young, but not so young as to be a helpless child. My hair was peculiar, yes, but not enough to be considered a threat.
Everything fit. With my worn footwear and the sword in plain view, I projected exactly the image of an adventurer: someone who had walked hard roads and did not let themselves be intimidated.
I must admit that all of this seemed very convenient to me, but all the thoughts I had during the journey about being the "weird one" crumbled in an instant, with just one chat with a stranger.
Once I reached the gates of the Adventurer's District, I noticed the two white stone structures watched over by guards. Holy Knights, probably. I observed their stances, their weapons, even the pattern of their movements.
The first to notice me was the guard on the left. His eyes scanned me casually at first, then stopped on my hair. Just curiosity, I understood; I didn't give it much importance. His face showed no disapproval.
When I finally arrived, the guard stopped me.
"Where do you come from, kid?" he asked.
I had to keep my voice young.
"From the Holy Sword Highway… I've been traveling for months."
The guard observed my torn clothes, my worn cloak, my battered boots.
His partner, the guard on the right, leaned in. Now both were evaluating me, but not with suspicion.
"Weapons?" asked the second one, without much interest.
I pointed to my sword, clearly visible.
"Magic?" he continued.
"Fire, water, earth, wind, and healing."
The guard nodded. That was enough.
"Go ahead," said the first one, stepping aside.
I passed through without being stopped further. Was it that simple?
After months in the Great Forest, entering was a shock to the senses. Everything at once: the chaos of the crowd, the smells, the stables, cheap inns lined up next to street food stalls.
But there was something that stood out more than the rest: the shiny silver building. Impossible to miss. The Adventurer's Guild was just as I had imagined: a monument, gleaming, visible from where I stood.
No one questioned me as I advanced. No one verified anything. The unwritten code the traveler had mentioned worked perfectly: don't ask questions, keep moving, let the Guild handle it.
I advanced through the streets, moving away from the chaos of the entrance. The central avenue was full of weapon shops, vendor stalls, and more people than I had seen in my entire life.
The smithies had a decent level of quality.
The silver building grew larger as I approached. Now I could distinguish more details: adventurers entering and leaving, some with full battle gear, others carrying bags that probably contained gold.
Once I reached the Guild doors, I paused for a moment to observe in detail.
The building was huge, just as one would expect from the organization's headquarters. Two floors that occupied a lot of space.
I took a deep breath and entered.
Behind the counter, a receptionist was smiling at me, watching with curiosity.
"Sorry for the delay. Would you mind helping me?"
She seemed bewildered. Did I speak too formally?
"Eh? Ah, sure…" she hesitated for an instant. "You want to… register as an adventurer, right?"
"That's right…" I said simply.
"In that case, could you start by filling out this document?"
She reached under the counter and handed me a sheet along with a thin piece of charcoal. There were lines for name, profession, and a formal summary of the guild and its rules:
1 — Use of the Adventurer's Guild
Formal registration allows access to all official services of the Adventurer's Guild.
2 — Guild Services
Registered adventurers can visit any branch to accept jobs, receive payments, trade materials, and perform monetary exchanges within the guild system.
3 — Personal Record and Adventurer
Card All information will be stored on the Adventurer Card, for which the holder is absolutely responsible. In case of loss or damage, a replacement card can be issued; however, the rank will be reset to F and a corresponding regional fee will apply.
4 — Leaving the Guild
Adventurers can leave the guild at any branch. A subsequent new registration will reset the rank to F.
5 — Standards of Conduct
Strictly prohibited: violating local laws, taking actions that gravely affect the guild's reputation, obstructing other adventurers in their duties, or trading guild jobs. Infractions may result in economic sanctions and revocation of adventurer status.
6 — Penalty for Non-Compliance
Failure to execute a job will entail the payment of one-fifth of the offered reward as a penalty. The debt must be settled within one year; otherwise, guild status will be revoked.
7 — Rank Classification
Adventurers are classified into seven ranks, from F to S, based on experience and skills. They may only accept jobs within a one-rank difference regarding their current rank.
8 — Promotion and Demotion
The successful completion of a determined number of jobs will allow for promotion to a higher rank. Refusal to accept a promotion is permitted. Consecutive failures in jobs can lead to rank demotion.
9 — Obligations and Responsibilities
In emergency situations, including monster attacks or local crises, all adventurers are obligated to cooperate and obey instructions issued by the local guild authority.
I completed the documents and left them on the counter.
"Perfect. Now, please place your hands on this."
I did as told, placing my hands down.
The metal card glowed dimly, displaying my data:
NAME: Daiki Greyrat
SEX: Male
RACE: Human
AGE: 10
PROFESSION: Swordsman
RANK: F
[It seems the card has mana storage capacity… that means it will update progressively.]
"Mana storage capacity?" I murmured to myself.
"Exactly. Once the energy runs out, you can come to recharge it. Also, every time you complete a mission, your reserve will recharge automatically, so you don't have to worry."
That was how I joined the Adventurer's Guild. Simple? Easy? Definitely. And, to be honest, I was glad it was that way.
Now, regarding missions, I could only accept those of rank F or rank E. That is, my current rank and the one immediately above. I couldn't simply skip ahead.
If that had been possible, it would have been very convenient for someone strong. Still, I couldn't help but feel some annoyance: skipping stages would have saved me a lot of time.
I also asked about how rank promotions worked. The receptionist answered with notable patience; she gave the impression that it had been a long time since anyone asked with such curiosity… or that she didn't expect that kind of interest from a child.
→ Guild Rank Promotion System
Rank advancement is not based on brute strength, but on proven experience and consistency. Each promotion requires meeting cumulative metrics and, in some cases, a streak of jobs at the new level.
Rank F → Rank E
Complete 10 Rank F jobs
Complete 5 consecutive Rank E jobs
Rank E → Rank D
Complete 50 Rank F jobs
Complete 25 Rank E jobs
Complete 10 consecutive Rank D jobs
Rank D → Rank C
Complete 100 Rank E jobs
Complete 40 Rank D jobs
Complete 10 Rank C jobs
Rank C → Rank B
Complete 100 Rank D jobs
Complete 50 Rank C jobs
Complete 20 consecutive Rank B jobs
Rank B → Rank A
Complete 300 Rank C jobs
Complete 100 Rank B jobs
Complete 20 Rank A jobs
Rank A → Rank S
Complete 100 Rank A jobs
Complete 20 Rank S jobs
Simple in a certain way, but complicated too.
Maybe my goal is to reach Rank A.
An adventurer of that level could accept missions of rank B, A, and S, which covered a much wider variety of jobs. More options, less downtime.
Rank S, on the other hand, seemed distinct. It wasn't just another step, but an exception: scarce missions, extraordinary dangers, and infrequent calls.
From a practical point of view, aiming for Rank A was the most efficient.
[As mentioned before, given your skills, you will reach at least Rank D in a week, provided you find enough missions. As this is the guild headquarters, that is not an impossibility.]
Exactly, Ayam™…
But this time it didn't depend only on my skill, but also on opportunity. To ascend quickly I had to accept higher-rank missions; in my case, completing five of Rank E.
"In case you don't have your own equipment… we have completed the registration process. Congratulations."
"Thank you very much. I appreciate you taking the time to explain everything to me with such interest."
The woman smiled slightly.
"Well… it's not common for a child to ask every detail. This time I decided to indulge myself and enjoy the explanation."
She settled back.
"If you want to take a job, simply tear off the paper with the relevant information from the board and bring it to our reception counter."
I nodded, heading toward a board.
The bulletin board was packed with dozens of pieces of paper. Apparently, there was a mountain of work that needed to be done.
However, as a newly registered adventurer, I could only take jobs classified as Rank F or E. Most were simple errands within the city: cleaning a home, helping in someone's kitchen or shop, assisting in a bookstore or looking for a lost pet.
None of them looked particularly challenging, and the rewards were low.
TASK: Blue Moon Grass and Lily Collection.
REWARD: 1 Millis silver coin
DETAILS: Collection of basic medicinal herbs. No combat required.
LOCATION: Outer edge of Forest (2 km from the security barrier).
DURATION: Until the provided basket is filled (approx. 4 to 6 hours).
DEADLINE: Tomorrow at sunset.
It was simple, quite so. And considering the time I had spent in the forest, it would be sufficient.
Just as I was going to take the request, a second hand reached out at the same time. We both stopped, looking directly at each other.
He had dark brown hair and watched me with a relaxed smile.
"I know you're going to think someone so strong shouldn't be doing such a simple mission," he said, adopting an air of grandeur. He was wearing a long, white outfit, similar to an elegant tunic that reached his ankles. The design was straight and neat, with a row of buttons down the front that reinforced his orderly appearance. In his hand, he held a staff. "But I also just joined…"
And so began my first day at the adventurer's guild.